The Grayce Walters Romantic Suspense Series

by Jacki Delecki

  “For Maddy?” Grayce tried to keep her tone neutral, but knew she had an edge of pique. Did Angie not realize what she had put her mother through?

  “You know about Maddy?”

  “Yes, your mom shared that you were looking for Maddy when you disappeared. Do you have any idea where she might be?”

  “No, I’m not sure, but I know I was close to finding her when I blanked out.”

  “Blanked out?” Grayce asked.

  “I hit my head. I still have a big bump.” Angie rubbed her hand along the base of her skull. “My psychiatrist believes the head trauma triggered my PTSD and my subsequent loss of memory. I don’t remember where I was during the entire time I was missing.”

  Grayce caught herself, pressing her lips into a tight line in an effort to control her response. “How absolutely frightening. Does your doctor think it’s wise to resume your search?” With dark circles and a nervous twitch above her eyes, Angie didn’t look ready to go back on the street.

  Angie’s long eyelashes fluttered shut. She gnawed her lower lip, looking a great deal less certain. “I haven’t told anyone about my plans. I have a vague memory, more like a sensation, that I was very close to finding Maddy before I was injured. I hoped that you would use your skills to help me.”

  Grayce felt as if someone raked their nails down her spine or she had run into an electric fence. “I’m a veterinarian, not a detective. I don’t really know how to locate missing people.”

  “But look how you helped to find me.”

  “Why not get the police involved? They’re the ones who found you.” Grayce wanted to say why not your brother, but this wasn’t the time to go off on that mystery.

  “I can’t go to the police. If Maddy is back using and is found by the police…” Angie shook her head. “It would ruin her military career. Maddy has fought against all odds to succeed as a Marine, and I don’t want her career destroyed.”

  “I really respect your commitment to finding your friend. I know you served together in Afghanistan.”

  “Marines don’t give up on each other. Maddy is trying to numb herself from her demons from the war. I’ve got to help her, get her back to our treatment group.”

  “Why don’t you ask your brother? He’s seems very skilled at this kind of thing.”

  “My step-brother and I aren’t close. I want to protect Maddy’s privacy after all she’s been through. I don’t know what condition I’ll find her in.”

  Grayce didn’t miss that Angie avoided sharing any further information about Hunter.

  “Ma’am. I wouldn’t ask if it were for me, but Maddy is one hell of a Marine.”

  How could Grayce say no to a Marine who wanted to save another battle-scarred veteran? Angie had to be terrified that, back on the street, she might relapse. Grayce couldn’t let her go alone on the dangerous streets.

  “My mom told me that you solved your last case with the help of a French Poodle. I’m hoping you and your poodle could help me search the jungle in Seattle.”

  Grayce’s stomach felt like she’d done a belly flop smack off a high board. “The jungle?” Her recurring nightmares of being lost in the jungle zoomed though her mind.

  “The jungle is the green belt on the west slope of Beacon Hill.”

  Alarm galloped into her stomach.

  “Is there a reason why you specifically want to look there?”

  “Before I got amnesia, I had been searching in the homeless encampments and I never made it there. And with Maddy’s ranger skills, I think it’d be an easy place for her to hide.”

  “Mitzi and I’ll help you look for Maddy. I want to help. I appreciate what you both did for our country. I need to leave for my course, but call me tomorrow and we’ll work out when Mitzi and I can go with you.”

  Angie stood. Her lips curved in the first smile of the visit. “Thank you, Dr. Walters. I knew I could depend on you.”

  Grayce wished she could be as happy as Angie about her decision. Her sixth sense was humming and not in a good way.

  Chapter Twenty

  Without Davis, but with flowers, champagne, and Mitzi, Grayce waited to meet his sisters for the first time. Her stomach somersaulted when she pressed the doorbell of the massive Georgian brick house in the Mount Baker neighborhood.

  The children’s toys and clothing scattered across the grass and the butterscotch-colored cat asleep in the bushes helped to soften the house’s austere façade and calm her nervousness. Mitzi barked at a child’s high-pitched shriek from inside the house.

  Grayce wished she could muster Mitzi’s enthusiasm about the dinner with Davis’ sisters and families. It would’ve been easier if she and Davis could have arrived together. He got delayed in a meeting in Bremerton at the nuclear submarine base. He had texted her that he would meet her at his sister’s house.

  She took a slow, deep breath. She was going to enjoy tonight and celebrate the great news that Angie had been found.

  Jane, in a stained apron, opened the door. Her black hair, high cheekbones and blue eyes perfectly matched the features of her older brother. She also shared the same dimple in her chin.

  “Grayce, we’re so glad you’ve come. Davis just called me to say he’s on his way. I’m Jane and this is Lindsay.”

  A small child hid behind her mother’s leg as her older, dark-haired brother ran to the door. His eager shouts echoed in the formal foyer. “Mitzi’s here.”

  Mitzi sat as three children raced toward her and began to pet and hug her. Mitzi sat patiently, enduring the affectionate grasps and pulls.

  Another of Davis’ look-alike sisters joined the boisterous group. “I’m Helene and this is Emma.” A fat cherub with her fingers threaded through her mother’s hair watched Grayce with big blue eyes. It was obvious that the Davis family gene pool was potent.

  Jane pointed to the children. “Grayce, this is Gray, Trevor, and Mackenzie.”

  Mackenzie, dressed in cowboy boots and a pink tutu, showed Grayce her finger. “I have an owie. Do you want to see?”

  Grayce bent to inspect a tiny scratch on the girl’s index finger. “That must hurt.”

  The smaller of the two boys showed Grayce his knee. “Gray knocked me down. But it doesn’t hurt.”

  Jane laughed. “I guess animals aren’t the only ones who recognize your healing abilities.”

  Gray tugged on his mother’s sleeve. “Can we take Mitzi in the back yard?”

  “What a great idea. It will give our guest time to adjust to her welcome,” Jane said, with a smile and wink at Grayce.

  The children gave her a mere glimpse as they rushed toward the back door with Mitzi in the middle. She could hear Mackenzie exclaim, “Let’s throw Mitzi the ball. She loves to catch balls.”

  She handed Jane the wine and flowers. “Thank you for inviting me.”

  Jane leaned down for Lindsay to smell the lilies Grayce had brought. “You might want to take your presents back after you’ve been here a while.”

  She smiled, not sure if Helene was kidding.

  There was an uncanny resemblance between Jane’s and Davis’ smile. “It isn’t exactly a restful event, but Davis said that you’ve braved dinner with Aunt Aideen. We love our Aunt, but…she has never stopped being a 60s hippie.”

  Both women laughed. “Did she read your tarot or your palm?” Jane asked.

  “She can be terrifying when she gets mad. She intimidates everyone,” Helene said.

  Helene had it wrong. Grayce had felt an immediate connection with Aunt Aideen. Aunt Aideen’s prediction about Hunter had been wrong, he hadn’t embroiled Grayce in anything dangerous. She and Aunt Aideen were kindred spirits despite their different styles.

  “Let’s open the champagne to fortify you for the upcoming family dinner.”

  “Great idea, Helene.” Jane pointed at Helene. “She’s the smart one of the family.”

  The sisters smiled at the inside joke.

  Grayce stood in the middle of the sunny kitchen. The sisters’ c
hatter enveloped her in kindness. Grayce experienced a yearning for sisterly intimacy like what she would’ve had with Cassie.

  “I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone for dinner the day she’s made a splash in The Seattle Times.” Jane wrapped a towel around the champagne bottle. Helene handed Grayce the coupe glasses.

  “You don’t look any older than your graduation picture from Cornell. Are you from the East Coast?” Jane asked.

  Grayce’s stomach started the same sensation of falling from a great distance.

  Jane turned to put Lindsay into her high chair. “I thought Davis said you grew up in Seattle.”

  “I don’t think Grayce knows what we’re talking about. You know you’re in today’s newspaper?” Helene turned toward Grayce as she placed Emma into a seat that was attached to the counter.

  “No.” Her voice came out tremulous.

  Her voice must have betrayed her shock. Both sisters stopped at the same time and gawked at her.

  “I was in the clinic all day,” Grayce said.

  “Davis didn’t tell you?” Jane asked.

  “It’s just like him,” Helene chimed.

  The sisters exchanged a knowing look. What had Davis done?

  Helene walked to the long kitchen table scattered with markers, papers, dolls and half-eaten sandwiches. The newspaper sat on top of the heap. “Grayce, come sit here while I open the champagne.”

  Grayce lowered herself to the chair after she removed a single striped sock. Her eyes focused on the paper. Dr. Grayce Walters was the caption under a very large picture of her from the award banquet at Cornell.

  Her heart raced, thundering against her chest. The headlines read “Animal Acupuncturist Works with Cat to Find Missing Woman Veteran.” Her gifts were exposed in big black and white bold letters.

  She couldn’t focus. Her hands shook when she lifted the paper.

  Emily Chow had done her homework. The newscaster had shared all the details of her training, her awards, her studies in China and her practice as an animal acupuncturist. She gulped her champagne. She couldn’t breathe.

  Helene poured more champagne into her glass. “It looks as if you need this.”

  She stared up into a pair of eyes that were identical to Davis’.

  Helene sat down and patted her hand. “This came as a surprise?”

  She nodded.

  “I’m not trying to intrude, but it’s obvious that the article has upset you. Jane and I are truly sorry for our cavalier way of announcing it. We had no idea.”

  “It’s…well, it’s so out there for anyone and everyone to know.”

  “And you didn’t want people to know?”

  She took another sip of champagne. “I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “You’re not really interested in public acclaim.” Helene understood more than she wanted her to.

  “I’m a pretty private person. At least James and Hollie will be happy.”

  What was it about the Davis family that made her feel as if she wanted to unload her burdens?

  “Seattle is an animal lovers’ city, so I don’t think anyone is going to stalk you from this article. And it can’t hurt your practice to get publicity.”

  Grayce heard Davis’ voice at the front door. “Where is everyone?” He walked into the kitchen and a rush of conflicting emotions overwhelmed her. Was it just this morning they had been in bed?

  “Champagne? What are we celebrating?” Davis hugged Jane, who stopped her chopping and pointed her heavy knife at Davis.

  “You’ve got some explaining to do…”

  “What have I done now?”

  Helene walked toward her brother. “I’m sure you meant it to be a surprise. Come on, Jane. We’ll let big brother get himself out of this one.”

  The sisters gathered their infants and left the kitchen.

  “What the hell are those two talking about?”

  Davis’ sisters weren’t intimidated by their massive brother. And they were acting very protective of Grayce. As she was leaving the kitchen, Helene turned and smiled at Grayce. A warm rush of belonging eased Grayce’s stress.

  Davis bent and kissed her on the lips. “What are my crazy sisters talking about?”

  “The article in the newspaper.”

  “Article in the newspaper? Why should an article in the newspaper upset my sisters?”

  “They were referring to the story about me.”

  “You’re in the paper?”

  The warmth in the kitchen suddenly cooled. Grayce was offended by the smooth way Davis pretended not to know.

  “This.” She pointed to the paper spread among the junk.

  Davis leaned toward the paper. “I had no idea. I’ve been in Bremerton all day.”

  “If you didn’t know, how come you’re quoted?”

  “Let me see that.” He took the paper and read. “That’s my quote from last year’s wharf fire. I had no idea.” When he was finished, he sat down and took her hand. “Are you okay?”

  “It’s a shock to see my name and picture blazing across the paper.”

  “Grayce, I’m sorry, but you did really help to find Angie.” Davis squeezed her hand. “I know how much you hate the scrutiny.”

  She leaned toward him. “It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world. And as I told your sisters, Hollie and James will be thrilled.”

  “What about you, Grayce, are you happy?” He got that special gleam in his cornflower blue eyes—the one that she found irresistible.

  She tugged on Davis’ hand, bringing him closer to her face. “You know I am.” She watched his bright eyes darken with desire. “I’m…” She licked her lips slowly, tantalizing. She heard the hitch in Davis’ breath. She giggled and stood up. “I’m famous in Seattle.”

  “What? You little minx. Come here.” Davis stood to grab her as she tried to rush past him. He caught her in his arms and pressed her against the table.

  “I think you need to learn a lesson on respecting your elders.”

  She couldn’t help but giggle. The champagne must have gone to her head. Davis swallowed her giggle with his voracious lips. She forgot all about the newspaper and her location until she heard a child shout.

  “Mom, Uncle Ewan is kissing Mitzi’s mother.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Grayce, Davis and Mitzi headed home from the party. The sky was tinged orange in the west—and very soon fireworks would start erupting in Elliot Bay. On the back seat of Grayce’s beat-up Subaru, Mitzi slept deeply. Entertaining five children had exhausted the poodle.

  “Wasn’t I smart to use the light rail so I could get you to drive me home?” Davis’ voice thickened as his fingers wandered under her skirt.

  Davis had disrupted her plan to check out the jungle on the west side of Beacon Hill on her drive home. She decided to take the Beacon Hill route anyway and then jump on 99. Davis wasn’t paying any attention to her route home, since he was intent on his exploration.

  “Not while I’m driving.” Her words came out breathless with the progression of his roving fingers.

  Davis was very capable of multi-tasking. As he talked, his fingers advanced in slow circles on her inner thigh. “I can’t believe you worried about meeting my sisters. I told you that you would impress them and that all my nephews and nieces would love you instantly.”

  “Davis, stop.” Grayce grabbed his hand.

  “We’re going to have our own fireworks when I get you home.” His voice was gruff.

  She drove down the curved, steep western hill. At night, the jungle looked ominous. Her heart sped in tandem with her descent into the dark night. “I liked your family. They’re great.”

  Watching Davis play with his nieces and nephews added one more attractive layer to this complicated man. He had won her respect with his gentle and concerned treatment of Mitzi, but she had no idea how much more she could love this man until she saw his tender care of his nephews and nieces in his arms. He just kept getting better.

&nb
sp; “Mackenzie followed you around all evening. And little Emma climbed into your lap and fell asleep,” Davis said.

  Grayce had cherished the feel of the toddler in her arms. At some point, she wanted children, but until now, the reality had been far removed from her present life. Now, with Davis as a partner, she began to believe in the possibility of a life filled with children and Davis.

  “The chief wants me to attend a conference in DC this week. I’m going to fly out on the red-eye on Wednesday.”

  Her joyful fantasy of a home filled with children disappeared in a flash. “That was sudden.”

  “There is a whole procedure for getting my security clearance with the FBI. Zac, you remember him, right? The guy from the FBI that helped me with my investigation. He’s arranged a special tour of the J. Edgar Hoover building.”

  Grayce heard the excitement in his voice and felt a hollow ache building in her chest.

  “And I have to find an apartment since there won’t be a lot of time once I get started on the job.”

  “You’ll be working long hours?”

  “Probably, but I like a challenge.”

  Davis was focused and driven, and once he got involved with national security issues, she wasn’t sure he’d be happy to return to his mundane life in Seattle.

  “I’ve got a realtor looking for an apartment in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. It has a great feel—a small village in Northwest DC, great restaurants, all in walking distance. You’re going to love it.”

  She didn’t say it didn’t matter if she loved it since she wouldn’t be there much. Her heart wasn’t breaking, but she had been fooling herself. Davis out of her daily life was going to hurt. She managed to give a half-hearted reply. “Sounds great, Davis.”

  “I’ve booked the flight home for Saturday night. Will you pick me up?”

  “You know I will.”

  “Honey, what is it? I won’t let this job come between us? You know that, right?”

  Her intuition wasn’t working around Davis. It was clouded with her own sense of loss. Davis had good intentions, but once he got focused on his work, would he have time or energy for them? Men easily compartmentalized their lives.